Sunday, March 9, 2008

Goodbye Springfield, Hello Pine Valley!

Hello my faithful friends and extended family,

This is a time of great change, it feels like everything is changing, but only for the better. Last Thursday was my final episode of Guiding Light, my final scene as Gus, saying goodbye to Harley forever. Lunchtime at CBS felt like the last supper. All of our crew, production staff, cast, and security all gathered together in the rehearsal hall to break bread and say goodbye. It is hard to believe that I won’t be walking back into the Guiding Light studio or my old dressing room again, but life goes on….

I was and have been a fan of ABC Daytime Television for a very long time, they really seem to do an amazing job, and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to become a part of the ABC family. I’ve actually been watching all of their shows. This will be the first time that I will be re-creating a character as opposed to creating him from scratch, but I’m excited by that challenge. I have never seen any of Jake's previous portrayers and he hasn’t been on the canvas for over half a decade, so in actuality, the only thing that I will be working with that I’m not used to…is his onscreen history created by others before me. It’ll be my job to erase all those memories and "de"construct him in my own image. If that was hard to follow, what I’m saying is…he won’t be like any Jake Martin you’ve known before.

But I can’t and I don’t want to do it without YOU. I don’t want to go to Pine Valley by myself. I want to take you all with me. It’ll be like a road trip, it’ll be like us all jumping on a bus together or a ship, I just want us all to take the journey together. So I’m going to ask that you search within yourself, and start watching ‘All My Children’, so you can learn the history. Personally I think it’s a great show. There is an actor on there named Michael E. Knight who plays Tad Martin, my brother. It’s obvious that he is quick, witty, and makes the dialogue his own. I get the feeling that he does a lot of improvising, and I love that about him. I have a good feeling about working with him. There is another actor on that show named Billy Miller, who plays Richie, probably my favorite character to watch, he’s very inventive. Thorsten Kaye plays Zach Slater, who seems to be the rock of the show, and I’m looking forward to getting into the perverbial ring with him. Cameron Mathison who plays Ryan is probably the nicest, most genuine guy I’ve ever met and that comes through in his character.

When it comes to the women of ‘All My Children,' they are all quite beautiful and charming to watch. Alicia Minshew plays Kendall, the daughter of Susan Lucci, and has all the beauty and grace of a Jane Eyre heroine. Rebecca Budig who plays Greenlee is sassy, feisty, and has the sexiest bedroom eyes on television. She called me the night I accepted the offer to congratulate me and it was at that moment, that I realized that I was really moving over to ABC. I would be proud to work with either one if these talented ladies.

So I consider myself lucky to step onto their set. If you take this journey with me from the beginning, I’ll be able to share all of my experiences with each and every one of you. Everything from ‘All My Children’s’ rehearsal process to their extravagant sets, from their high production values to their Super Soap weekend at Disney, who knows, maybe eventually I’ll be able to take you on a studio tour. Now I know that for those of you who don’t watch ‘All My Children,' to ask you to start watching is probably asking a lot, but look at it this way, now you have somebody who is working on the inside and can fill you in on any and all of your questions. This is going to be the first installment of my weekly blog, I will log in every Sunday to do another, so check back every week!

I start filming on or about the week of March 31st, which means I will be airing towards the end of April. So start watching as soon as possible, tape it, DVR it, TiVo it, whatever you have to do. I know you won’t be disappointed. Weekdays 1pm ET/12pm PT or check your local listings!

ABC does not have an email system for its actors, so I need you to write to me via snail mail at:

Ricky Paull GoldinAll My Children320 West 66th StNew York, NY 10023

Tell me all your thoughts and ideas and I will respond as fast as I can. You will be added to my mailing list. Who would you like me to get into a relationship with first and how would you like to see it happen? For viewers that already know this show, I’d love to hear everything you have to say about Jake Martin, what you loved, hated, missed about him, and what you wished would have happened with him. It’s going to be fun bringing him back to life for you. So that’s it for now, I look forward to all of your input, I’ll see you in Pine Valley.

37 comments:

Well Hello, Hello! What an amazing read - Thank you so much for the blog. Can't wait to read it each week.

As for asking me to follow you to another show, no need to worry. You should know by now that I'd follow you to the moon! I admire you and your talent THAT much!! I really do. I've already planned and announced that I'll soon be tuning back into AMC. I haven't watched it in forever, well, since like 9th grade, yep, that was a lifetime ago, lol, but I'm sure I'll be back into it in no time supporting Jake Martin completely.

Best of luck on your new journey - can't wait to join you. Speaking of which, if possible, it would be great if you could let us know any events that you plan on participating in so we'll know what options are better for our investments. In other words, could you let us know whether to cancel any reservations we have made for April and October, lol.

Again, thanks so much for the blog and Congratulations on the new role!

Ok been watching AMC for years now, since i was 12, and I am caught up on the story line there and have been for along time. even my 14 yr old like the show, but i do not allow her to see everything, lol. They have an amazing cast, love them all. In i watch alot of thier shows on ABC. Well congradulations, and good luck on the new role , and i am sure you will do a good job, and god Bless!

Oh Ricky, we are so thrilled to have you in Pine Valley!!! I'm sure you will love it here. I know my friends and I are so looking forward to Dr. Jake Martin returning, and perhaps taking over the reins at PVH from his father. We are also looking forward to many wonderful Martin family moments. Hopefully we will now see Ruth a bit more, too!

One last thing just in case you didn't know from watching the show the past few months... Kendall... uh yeah, she's taken. Really taken!!! LOL

Welcome to Pine Valley. I look forward to your interpretation of Jake Martin. I think Jake has been off the show long enough to make a recast believable and I have only heard good things about you.I look forward to having another strong actor join Thorsten Kaye, David Canary and Michael E. Knight. That much talent in one place will be awesome.(I also hope Jake will have a calming effect on Greenlee... hint hint)

Ricky,Wow, I can't begin to tell you how much I am going to miss "Gus", he was, in my opinion the best male character on daytime TV, and it was all because of your hard work and dedication in bringing him to life for us day after day. Alas, Gus' last day on GL will also be my last day as a viewer.

I, too, have already begun watching AMC in preparation of your arrival in Pine Valley, and as heartbreaking as it will be to say goodbye to Gus, I am also excited by the prospect of watching you take the already established character of Jake Martin and making him your own. And to all of the AMC fans who are currently unfamiliar with your work...well, they are in for a rare treat indeed!

I truly believe that everything has a season and we have to sometimes move on. I am so excited to watch you on a new soap. To be honest, I am excited about re-acquainting myself with a new soap. I know you will be awesome as Jake Martin, the same way you made Gus, all your own.

I have always been a CBS girl when it comes to daytime TV except when I worked as a news reporter for our local ABC station. We could get by with watching our own network so we all watched one soap and it was, All My Children. You are truly the only actor that could change my soap viewing habits but you have.

Thanks for all of the time and work you put into "Gus". I also appreciate all of the time you have given to fan events and charity. I can't wait to find out which events you will attend so mom and I can be there. I love the new blog idea and will look forward to reading it every week.

First let me say this I will miss Gus in Springfield so very much!! I watched him from the very beginning during your time at GL. He will be greatly missed. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the 7 years that Gus graced our screen & for all the memories I have of Gus & GusH both on screen & when I've met you in person.

Now moving on...

I wish you the best of luck in your new journey in Pine Valley. I have watched All My Children off & on for the last 2 years. Believe me when I say I will follow Dr. Jake Martin. I think Jake could fit with Annie very well.

Yes, if possible please let us know what you will or won't be participating in.

Jake Martin is my favorite character and I've missed him so much. I've never watched GL, but have heard wonderful things about you and how talented you are. I know you will do a great job bringing Jake back to life for us. He's a very special character being a major part of the original core family of AMC.

I'd love to see Jake and Greenlee revisited! They were so much fun to watch!

Ricky, words cannot describe how sad I am to see you go! I too have thought that the last day for Gus on GL will be the last day I will ever watch GL. I have been a loyal GL fan since I was 4 or 5. I started watching with my grandmother who had been a fan since GL on was radio. I continued to watch GL as a way to stay connected with my grandmother since her passing in 2004. But now with all the changes that the show has made, I can't watch it any more. What makes it worse is that they are adding insult to injury by getting rid of Gus. I wish you luck on your new journey.

Good luck at AMC. I am a long time Guiding light fan (I'm not that old, my grandma watched it).I will miss you. You and Harley were great. Hate new story line!. I am a stay at home mom so if it does not disturb nap time I will turn on ABC just to see you.

If in a few years you want to return to GL and reunite with Harley that would be fine with me. Or if you can convince Beth to leave GL and follow you to AMC that would be wonderful. She could play Dixie or something.

Welcome to AMC!! I would love to see you paired with either Julia, Annie or Greenlee. It would be nice to see Julia with a love interest, but it would also be great to see Jake/Greenlee revisited. As for Annie, I love the character and a Quad with Annie/Ryan/Greenlee/Jake would most definitely be fun to watch.

I'm just happy that you are coming to AMC. I can't wait to see you on my screen sometime in April.

I've been a fan and regular viewer of Guiding Light for almost 20 years now. I have loved every aspect of Gus and I couldn't take my eyes off you from the first time I saw you in the role. You quickly became one of my favorite actors! No joke, you are right up there with the best of the best in the acting world! Yes, I was also a HUGE Gus and Harley fan, but I also understand dramas and know that every classic daytime couple must come to at least one out-with-a-bang type of break up and I'm fine with that, because usually if you wait long enough they will find their way back to eachother. The thing about you leaving the show is now I don't have the reuniting of Gus and Harley to watch for! That sucks! As far as following you to Pine Valley, I'm right ahead of ya! I've been watching the show for a few years now anyway! I am soooo happy you are going to be on the show. They do have one of the best casts around. So many great characters and so many awsome plots going on! I'd LOVE to see you in the mix of Zack and Ryan and Tad and even JR and Adam! I'll see you in the Valley!AdriaGirl

Welcome to Pine Valley! AMC is the only soap I've ever watched -- and I've been watching it since almost the beginning. Scary thinking how long that is!

You are so lucky to be working with the sexiest man on TV, Michael E. Knight. He's the best and his humor is a bright spot on AMC for sure.

As for the characer of Jake, well, I hope you get some good writers behind you. Since he's been in Africa so long, and since Jamie (Tad and Brooke's son) followed him there, it will be interesting to see how they explain his solo return.

As for love life, there are certainly ladies to choose from. Kendall has been with just about every eligible guy, but never did Jake (that I recall). Right now, she's Zach's with a dose of Ryan and Aiden thrown in, so I think her hands are full, so to speak. Greenlee is supposedly with Aiden, completing the Zach/Kendall/Greenlee/Aiden drama. I think that pretty much rules out both of those gals.

Julia doesn't have anyone right now -- except that she adopted Tad's daughter (no one but Adam knows that's who the little girl is, though). It would be interesting if Jake and Julia hit it off and then (finally) have Tad find out that the little girl is really his and Dixie's long-lost baby, Kate. That would leave Tad's brother raising his kid. Hmmm. Sounds like lots of possibilities for storylines there.

Amanda is too young, although we all understand that in Soap World these things don't really matter.

Annie has Ryan and her brother, Richie, to deal with. Babe has JR and Richie to deal with.

Erica is in jail and has Jack (and is too old for Jake anyway). Colby is way too young, even in soap world.

Hmmm, I'm thinking you'll be spending a lot of time with Sydney Penny (Julia). Not too bad a gig!

Welcome to the Blog world Ricky, I have always loved your work on Guiding Light, from you harrassing Danny and Michelle, up till now. You will be missed, and if Gus goes out like I think he will, I'm gonna be seriously upset.

But No worries about me following you to All My Children, since I already watch off and on for years. I'll know you'll be an excellent Jake

The beginning of the song is Only Love Can Save The World so please reconsider coming back to Guiding Light I wish that the song could save you. We love your character we love you as an actor, you will be greatly missed. You have become a family member to me I watch you every morning for the past 7 years and I have been a GL viewer for 40 years. We will be awaiting for your return I hope it will be very soon. Love Your Faithful Fan,Rose

Hey there... I just discovered your site tonight, (thanks to the unnamed magazine with whom you definitely HONORED your "gentleman's agreement...") and am so excited to see you posting about your move!!

I enjoyed you as Dean, have loved you as Gus, and can't wait to see your take on Jake Martin!

One thing I thought of and found funny the other night... is that Jake's ex-wife (only ex-wife, that I can remember) was a doctor named "Allie," played by Alla Korot... do you stay in touch with her at all these days??

No matter who you are paired with, I am excited to see where you and Jake are going to take us in Pine Valley! I think you and Michael Knight will be an awesome twosome to watch from the start... and if a certain wonderful little actress from GL finds herself moving to your new soap home... I'm betting that there's still a ton of Ricky Paull/Beth magic we might see in the future : )

Anyway, just wanted to post to say "I found you," and look forward to following you... this is an exciting chapter for you, and for AMC, and I have a great feeling it's going to be one of the best ones!!!

Wishing you all the best!!!!

~Jill Milford DotterMarietta, GA

P.S. I wanted to also send along my condolences here on the passing of your father, because I hadn't done so before... I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my father just over two years ago, and I pray that you have wonderful memories with your dad, just like I do, that remind you always how lucky you were to have him for as long as you did... (((( hugs ))))

I have been watching GL for 22 years and I have to say that as much as i will miss you, I can't blame you for leaving. The new digital way of doing things is awful. I can hardly stand to watch it anymore. Good luck to you and I will definitly check out AMC. Shea

DEAR GUS (YOU WILL ALWAYS BE GUS TO ME) FIRST LET ME SAY THAT I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FATHERS PASSING...I WROTE A POEM FOR MY FATHER WHEN HE WAS DYING FROM CANCER...I WANTED YOU TO HAVE IT...IT IS CALLED "WE'LL MEET AGAIN"A HAND THAT SLIPS OUT OF A GLOVE,OUT OF OUR DIMENSION TO A DIMENSION ABOVE. WE'RE NEVER APART FOR VERY LONG,"WE'LL MEET AGAIN" IS MORE THAN A SONG.

I SEARCHED FOR A TOKEN TO HELP EASEYOUR PAIN. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE BUT MYSEARCH WAS IN VAIN. SO I OPENED THIS BOXAND PUT IN A PRAYER, I PUT IN SOME FRIENDSHIP AND LOTS OF CARE.

I PUT IN SOME FAITH, I PUT IN SOME LOVEAND ASKED GOD TO SEAL IT WITH STRENGTHFROM ABOVE. SO PLEASE NEVER OPEN, JUSTHOLD TO YOUR SOUL "WE'LL ALL MEET WITH GOD, FOR HE IS OUR GOAL".

NOW LET ME SAY THAT MY MOTHER AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE CBS SOAPS SINCE THEY WERE 15 MINUTES LONG...LOYAL EVERDAY WATCHERS...I HAVE SPENT MORE TIME WITH THE GUIDING LIGHT CAST...THAN I HAVE WITH MOST OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS...REVA AND I HAVE GONE THRU THE YEARS TOGETHER AS FRIENDS (SHE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT)...HER TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS...HAVE EASED THE PAIN OF MY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS...I NEVER MISSED SHARING A HOLIDAY WITH ANY OF YOU...YOU ALWAYS MADE THE SAD ONES A LITTLE BETTER...IN ALL THESE YEARS...I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN TO ANYONE OR TO ANY MESSAGE BOARD...I AM JUST THE TYPE OF FAN THAT THANKS YOU FOR BEING THERE EVERYDAY...BY KEEPING YOU IN MY HEART...AND THINKING OF YOU AS FAMILY...WHEN PEOPLE LEFT...I JUST HAD A REALITY CHECK FOR A MOMENT...THAT SAID..IT'S A STORY..THEY DO HAVE A REAL LIFE...PEOPLE COME AND GO...THE OTHER DAY MY MOM (84) SAW A CAPTION THAT SAID...ACCIDENT SHOCKS SPRINGFIELD...SO I TUNED IN TODAY...KNOWING THAT THE ACCIDENT WOULD BE A HEART TO SAVE OLIVIA'S LIFE (ESPICALLY SINCE SHE MARRIED JEFFERY)...MY MOM AND I TRIED TO GUESS...WHO??? I SAW YOU GET ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE..I WAS DEVASTATED...I KNEW IMMEDIATELY..."THAT IT WAS YOU"...THE TEARS CAME...I TURNED OFF THE SHOW AND WENT ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT WHY...THAT LED ME TO THIS SITE AND YOUR LETTER...I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GUIDING LIGHT WRITERS OR TOP EXEC'S COULD HAVE BEEN THINKING...TO TAKE SOMEONE WITH SUCH A KEY ROLE...IN THE PRIME OF 3 RELATIONSHIPS...WHO HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH TO THEIR SHOW...TO LET YOU GO...SINCE YOU ARE GIVING AWAY YOUR HEART...DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH ROOM FOR A RETURN...UNLESS YOU BECOME A GHOST LIKE JOHN ABBOT ON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS...GUESS THEY FIGURED THEY MADE A MISTAKE THERE TOO...I GUESS BY NOW YOU HAVE FIGURED OUT I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE GUIDING LIGHT...IF YOU WOULD HAVE LEFT WITH AN OPENING FOR RETURN...IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT...I FEEL LIKE I LOST A FAMILY MEMBER...FOR SOME STRANGE REASON...IT'S NOT JUST MY LOSS I FEEL...I ALSO FEEL YOURS...I DON'T THINK YOU ARE HAPPY ABOUT THIS EITHER...BETWEEN YOU AND I...IT'S THEIR LOSS...GOD HAS GREAT PLANS FOR YOU...I DON'T ALWAYS LIKE IT BUT I DO KNOW "EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON"...I WISH YOU THE BEST! YOU ARE AN AWESOME ACTOR WITH A SPECIAL SOUL...SORRY THIS WAS SO LONG...BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALL THESE YEARS...I HAD TO SAY WHAT I FELT! LOVE...BELLA

I can not believe that I won't be seeing Gus anymore on GL. You are my favorite and the characters of you and Harley needed to get back together. I wish you luck Ricky, but I am saddened that Gus is going to die First it was Tammy now Gus, I know I will be using a lot of kleenex that day. You will be missed Ricky.

First, let me say how much Gus will be missed on GL. I'm furious that he's dying. But....BIG but here...despite the fact that I have watched this show for over 40 years, I have to say I would have done the same thing in your shoes. I've been VERY vocal about the downward spiral of GL since Ms. Wheeler took over, and about the wretched production techniques they have employed. I'm not sure it's a fair trade to lose you in exchange for some support in the anti-handi-cam crusade, but I admire your conviction. Sorry, but no...I won't be watching AMC. The only soap I've watched is GL and there is no other. I'll just wait for you to come back to springfield.

Hello Gus, I'm so sad that you are leaving Guiding Light! You and Harley were the GREATEST couple EVER, and I don't think it will ever be the same without you! I wish that Guiding Light would have tried harder to keep you there... They are going to lose alot of viewers with you gone, counting ME!! I'll be following you to AMC... I'm a little nervous about starting a different soap, but as long as I can see you there, I'm excited all the same!! Good Luck, and I'll see you on AMC!! God Bless!

Well Ricky, Let me start by saying that I am so sorry for your loss. I can only imagine what you are going thrpugh. My heart goes out to you and all of your loved ones. My God watch over all of you and give you all the strength at such a painful and hard time.

I have to say that i just finished watching todays Gl and I cried like never before! My husband was laughing cause I was crying like a baby. I LOVED you on GL. I started watching when I was a very young child with my mother. When she wuold work we would record it every day and watch it every night before we went to sleep. I never stopped watching all these years! I am now 23 and a married mother of 3 children. I have a 4 1/2 yr old daughter, 3 yr old daughter and an 8 month old son. My daughters now sit with me in the afternoon and watch with me. I have to say you have always been my favorite.

I am from Springfield, MO. ... weird huh... lol... although I moved when I was 13 a friend of mine and I talk online all the time about Guiding Light and you are both of our favorites!

You have done amazing work on GL and I think that it is so sad that you are leaving. I loved all the work you did. I am just so sad to see you go. Like many of the others the have written you before me I wish that they would have left it so that you could come back. But like they all said also... Their loss... But it still sucks so bad. I will miss you sooooo much.

I hope that you have an amazing time with the new character. I am a die hard GL fan.. but I will now have to take a peek at AMC just for you! :)... Take care!

I've been watching GL my entire life. My mom started watching it the week I was born...39 years ago. You were the only reason I've been hanging on for the past few months. The new production style ishorrible. Story lines terrible. When Gus and Harley broke up...the wheels really started to fall off the wagon.

I'm very sorry to see you go. I wonder if the producers of GL will me sorry to see me go ? I should modify that to "see us go."Mom's out as well.

I am so dissapointed that you have left Guiding Light. I had so hoped that you would stay on as your character is such a strong part of the show. And was also hoping for Gus and Harley to reconnect again. So many exciting things are happening on the Light right now and had just hoped you would be a part of them. I am sure your fellow coworkers are missing you as well.

So sad to see you leave GL. I've been watching it for 15 years and you were by far the best actor on the show! (not to mention easy on the eyes, but that goes without saying) I have never watched AMC but will consider it now since you'll be there!

I just have a question. I have heard that you and Beth are dating in real life. Is this true?? Because I think yall would make a wonderful couple. I kind of hate it that Brot had to reappear. I liked the whole Jake/Taylor story line.